Your visit to this area was preceded in 1609 by that of Samuel de Champlain, the first European to explore this vast lake. Since 1731, this area has been occupied by French, British, and American troops–all recognizing the military importance of commanding the narrow channel here.Those that held the point controlled the major waterway and trade route between New York and Montreal. The guardhouse was a two- story structure that housed the king’s Interpreter of Indian languages, barracks, and a hospital. The end walls of the guardhouse can be seen about 20 feet to the right and left of station marker #2. This and other buildings in the fort were made with stone cut in a characteristic French style.The stone, used to decorate doors, windows, and corners, had chiseled margins and bush hammered (rough) centers. The Tower Redoubt This sandy area marks the dry ditch that protected the entry to the redoute – a four-story tower that contained a bake oven,well,guard room,storerooms,armory,dungeon,and commanders quarters.The redoute’s stone walls were 12 feet thick, making it the most secure structure in the fort.A draw- bridge controlled passage across the dry ditch. The French,threatened by the approach of the British army, commanded by General Amherst in 1759, blew up the citadel and the windmill before withdrawing to Canada. The rest of Fort St. Frédéric was intact when the british occupied the site that same year. TheThe British British CrownCrown Point Point fortressfortress VillageVillage TheThe commanding commanding view view this this site site provided provided of of both both The walls of the British fort here were land and water is certainly evident here. Outside the wall to The walls of the British fort here were land and water is certainly evident here. Outside the wall to constructedconstructed of of three three parallel parallel walls walls of of squared squared logs logs supported supported the southwest (look to your right across the field) was a village the southwest (look to your right across the field) was a village byby beams beams runnng runnng through through them.The them.The space space between between the the walls walls bustling with activity. The village of a few dozen buildings, bustling with activity. The village of a few dozen buildings, waswas filled filled with with soil. soil. Rooms Rooms called called bombproofs bombproofs were were located located including homes, a tavern, an apothecary (pharmacy), a store, including homes, a tavern, an apothecary (pharmacy), a store, withinwithin the the inner inner sections sections of of wall.Today, wall.Today, rounded rounded depressions depressions and a blacksmith shop, was inhabited by many retired soldiers and a blacksmith shop, was inhabited by many retired soldiers inin the the ground ground mark mark the the places places where where bombproofs bombproofs were were located. located. and soldiers on active duty living outside the fort. Far across and soldiers on active duty living outside the fort. Far across TheThe powder powder magazine magazine (storeroom) (storeroom) was was located located in in this this the field stands an 1876 limekiln.Beyond it is the site of Gage’s the field stands an 1876 limekiln.Beyond it is the site of Gage’s bastionbastion close close to to the the soldiers’ soldiers’ barracks. barracks. In In 1773, 1773, a chimney a chimney fire fire Redoubt – a small fortification built in 1759. Redoubt – a small fortification built in 1759. startedstarted in in the the barracks. barracks. It It spread spread through through the the log log walls walls to to the the powderpowder magazine, magazine, causing causing an an enormous enormous explosion explosion that that destroyeddestroyed the the bastion. bastion. CrownCrown Point Point continued continued toto play play a prominent a prominent role role in in our our nation’s nation’s history. history. It Itwas was occupied occupied byby the the Americans Americans in in 1775-76, 1775-76, then then recaptured recaptured and and held held by by the the TheThe land land approaches approaches to to the the fort fort were were protected protected by by BritishBritish until until the the end end of of the the Revolutionary Revolutionary War War in in 1783. 1783. Since Since smallersmaller fortifications fortifications called called redoubts. redoubts. The The Grenadier Grenadier Redoubt Redoubt 1976,1976, the the New New York York State State Office Office of of Parks, Parks, Recreation Recreation and and waswas located located where where the the French French windmill windmill stood. stood. Gage’s Gage’s Redoubt Redoubt HistoricHistoric Preservation, Preservation, which which preserves preserves the the forts forts and and interprets interprets waswas located located southeast southeast of of the the British British village.The village.The Light Light Infantry Infantry theirtheir place place in in history, history, has has administered administered this this site.The site.The staff staff at at the the RedoubtRedoubt is is still still evident evident across across the the highway highway from from the the entrance entrance site’ssite’s museum museum will will be be happy happy to to provide provide additional additional information information toto the the state state historic historic site.The site.The U-shaped, U-shaped, stone-lined stone-lined ditch ditch is is the the regardingregarding any any aspect aspect of of Crown Crown Point Point State State Historic Historic Site. Site. remainsremains of of this this redoubt.Each redoubt.Each redoubt redoubt was was made made of of logs logs and and had had a barracks,a barracks, approximately approximately 10 10 cannons, cannons, and and a force a force of of 100 100 men. men. ThreeThree miles miles beyond beyond the the redoubts redoubts were were three three blockhouses blockhouses builtbuilt across across the the neck neck of of the the point.These point.These smaller smaller outposts outposts served served asas the the first first line line of of defense defense and and controlled controlled land land access access to to Crown Crown Point.Point. StateState of ofNew New York York EliotEliot Spitzer, Spitzer, Governor Governor OfficeOffice of ofParks, Parks, Recreation Recreation and and Historic Historic Preservation Preservation CarolCarol Ash, Ash, Commissioner Commissioner DepartmentDepartment of ofEnvironmental Environmental Conservation Conservation PetePete Grannis, Grannis, Commissioner Commissioner CROWNCROWN POINT POINT StateState Historic Historic Site Site.